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Tag: Long-term care

  • Community Aging in Place—Advancing Better Living for Elders (CAPABLE)

    Community Aging in Place—Advancing Better Living for Elders (CAPABLE)

    As the population ages, many experiments are underway to understand how best to keep people living in their homes as long as possible, sometimes called community aging in place. Not only is nursing home care extremely costly, but most older adults prefer to live at home. And, some experts believe that a few low-cost interventions can keep people in their homes months or even years longer. CAPABLE (Community Aging in Place—Advancing Better Living for Elders) is testing that proposition, helping low-income older adults with chronic conditions increase their mobility and functionality at home.

    CAPABLE relies on occupational therapists, nurses, and handymen who can help make a home safer and easier to move around in, to enable older adults to age in place.  The theory is that neither providing supports for individuals nor making changes to the home alone is adequate to help meet the needs of vulnerable older adults at risk of serious disability. But, a small investment–$4,000—in both could make a large difference in their lives and save significant money as well.

    Initial study results show that CAPABLE could improve health and daily life for many older adults, while reducing health care costs. Older adults in the study group received 10 one-hour to one-hour-and-a half visits over five months.  The handyman might lower shelves and install handrails.  The nurse might help a person organize her medications to ensure medication compliance.

    The study found that 79 percent of the 100 people receiving the CAPABLE intervention improved their self-care in five months and experienced fewer symptoms of depression.  The average participant reduced her disabilities by half and was far better able to take care of herself.

    The project was funded by a grant from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Innovation Center.

  • Long-term care is unaffordable for middle-income families

    Long-term care is unaffordable for middle-income families

    Where you live matters, for all kinds of reasons, including because it affects the long-term services and supports that may be available to you and the people you love. The big headline, though, is that long-term care is too often unaffordable for middle-income families no matter what state you live in.

    As more and more boomers begin to need long-term services and supports, new policy solutions become critical. Today, Medicaid provides the only real safety net for older adults, people with disabilities and caregivers.  But, the adequacy of Medicaid supports varies considerably among the states.  And, long-term care insurance is not meeting people’s needs.

    If you’re interested to know how your state ranks in providing long-term services and supports, AARP has developed a scorecard.  The scorecard looks at how states fare in five areas (1) cost and access, (2) care providers and settings, (3) quality of life and quality of care, (4) support for family caregivers, and (5) effective transitions.

    Based on the scorecard, when it comes to long-term services and supports, Minnesota and Washington are the two best states to live in, and Alabama and Kentucky are the two worst states. South Dakota, New York and Montana rank 24, 25 and 26th respectively.

    For simple tips on how to plan for long-term care, click here.

  • Are you ready to start thinking about long-term care? Perhaps you should be.

    Are you ready to start thinking about long-term care? Perhaps you should be.

    It’s time to start thinking about long-term services options.

    According to a new Health Affairs report, most Americans underestimate their future need for long-term care services and supports and know precious little about their options.  Of note, those with minor children were the least likely to think they would need services and supports as they aged. Six out of ten people surveyed thought that they would not have this need, while the data suggests that seven out of ten in fact do need long-term services and supports.

    The researchers looked at expectations of adults age 40 to 65 in different living arrangements.  Those living alone were most likely to appreciate their future need for these services. Even still, long-term services and supports are unaffordable for many middle-income families. 

    Who provides long-term services and supports? Often family caregivers. Medicaid is also a major provider of these services. Click here to learn more from Just Care on different long-term services and support resources.

    For simple tips from Just Care on how to plan for long-term care, click here.

  • Individual saving and spending for long-term care services and supports

    Individual saving and spending for long-term care services and supports

    Fact: Americans pay a lot of money out of pocket for long-term care services and supports. Costs comprise 15% of overall spending in 2011. 

    Fact: In 2013, a private room in a nursing home cost about $84,000. The cost of care in an assisted living facility was $42,000. Home health aides, homemakers and companion services generally charge about $20 an hour. Home care costs can easily total $22,000 a year. Adult day care centers cost about $65 a day.

    Fact: Only 35% of Americans say that they have set aside any money to meet long-term care needs.  Many people will rely on family members for their care because nursing home and home care are so expensive. In fact, 87% of long-term caregivers are unpaid family members. 

    Click here to learn about who pays for long-term-care services and how they are delivered from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.  Click here for a brief look at long-term care for older adults from the Kaiser Family Foundation. 

  • Three tips to plan for long-term care

    Three tips to plan for long-term care

    1. Protection: Because most of us will need long-term services and supports, it’s important to plan ahead for long-term care.  If your income is low, Medicaid will pick up the cost of a nursing home stay.  Depending upon the state you live in, you also might be able to spend down your income to qualify for Medicaid. If not, Medicare will at most only pick up the cost of a short-term stay in a skilled nursing facility depending on whether you meet the eligibility criteria.  Most people rely on family members and friends to provide long-term care at no or low-cost.
    2. Cost: If you cannot count on Medicaid or assistance from family and friends, you should plan ahead and set aside funds to pay for long-term care.  For more information on costs, this  AARP report shows that long-term care is unaffordable for many middle-income families. In 2013, an average nursing home stay cost $84,000 a year and the average cost of care in an assisted living facility was $42,000.
    3. Long-term care insurance: Before buying long-term care insurance, keep in mind that the premiums are likely to rise dramatically over time. And, the coverage you buy today may be inadequate when you need it since health care costs likely will rise more than the 5 percent inflation protection in some policies. If you’re thinking of buying insurance, find out what will trigger your getting benefits—e.g. inability to bathe or to dress—as well as when those benefits will begin, how much you will receive in benefits daily, how long you will receive benefits, and the maximum amount you will receive in benefits.

    For information on the costs and risks of buying a long-term care policy, read this article from Consumer Reports.

    Learn the full range of issues you need to consider before buying a long-term care policy from California Health Advocates, the consumer experts on long-term care here. You can also get answers to frequently asked questions.
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    Long-term care at a glance
  • Medicaid, Medicare and long-term care

    Medicaid, Medicare and long-term care

    Long-term care can cost a lot.  Medicare sometimes picks up a small piece of the cost.  Medicaid can cover a lot of the cost.  Paying out-of-pocket for long-term care tends to be extremely expensive. Here are some key facts on Medicaid, Medicare and long-term care:
    • Fact: Medicaid covers about two-thirds of all long-term care spending, about $131 billion in 2011.  87% of Medicaid spending on older adults is for long-term care.  One in three older adults with Medicaid receive long-term care through Medicaid.
    • Fact: 43% of people with Medicaid needing long-term care are under the age of 65.
    • Fact: Medicare does not cover long-term custodial care, nor does standard health insurance.  Medicare contributed 21% to long-term care in 2011, because it covers skilled nursing care and skilled therapy services for a limited time post-hospitalization.

    Here’s more from Just Care on aging in place and long-term care services and supports:


    Click here     to learn more about long-term services and supports from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and here to learn more about long-term care from JAMA.

    Photo Credit: RWJF